Comments on: Collecting Japanese Cars in Oz http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2008/08/18/collecting-japanese-cars-in-oz/ The official blog of Japanese Nostalgic Car magazine Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:25:40 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kev http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2008/08/18/collecting-japanese-cars-in-oz/comment-page-1/#comment-6989 Kev Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:17:04 +0000 http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/?p=3200#comment-6989 If I were picking up my own Stelvio (and watch out Ben..it will happen) then I think one should dress like this: http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m255/MX5_Dorifto/duran.jpg Ahh Mark, you owned a 262C Bertone? You have just gone up a notch in my book mate :) If I were picking up my own Stelvio (and watch out Ben..it will happen) then I think one should dress like this:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m255/MX5_Dorifto/duran.jpg

Ahh Mark, you owned a 262C Bertone? You have just gone up a notch in my book mate :)

]]> By: Ben http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2008/08/18/collecting-japanese-cars-in-oz/comment-page-1/#comment-6988 Ben Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:43:03 +0000 http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/?p=3200#comment-6988 That's a great story, Mark. A funeral director in full black leather suit? Either he was a vampire or just woke up from the Matrix. Did he come pick up the car at night? For the Stelvio, I think the proper outfit would be a glowing Tron cycle rider suit. That’s a great story, Mark. A funeral director in full black leather suit? Either he was a vampire or just woke up from the Matrix. Did he come pick up the car at night?

For the Stelvio, I think the proper outfit would be a glowing Tron cycle rider suit.

]]> By: Kev http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2008/08/18/collecting-japanese-cars-in-oz/comment-page-1/#comment-6986 Kev Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:24:00 +0000 http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/?p=3200#comment-6986 It'll be expensive to "overnight parts from Italy" so you better give me that pay rise Ben :) It’ll be expensive to “overnight parts from Italy” so you better give me that pay rise Ben :)

]]> By: MarkG http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2008/08/18/collecting-japanese-cars-in-oz/comment-page-1/#comment-6985 MarkG Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:03:17 +0000 http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/?p=3200#comment-6985 Kevin, following your criteria of being rare, aspirational-in-period and "interesting" I bought a Volvo 262C some years ago. For readers not familiar with this car, it is the V6 Coupe from the late 70s with the heavily lowered roof-line. In terms of aesthetics it is a heady rival for the Stelvio. At the time it was described as the car for little people with big wallets. It cost triple the price of a Volvo 244 and was "sumptuously" trimmed. Being over 6 feet tall, I did have head-room problems. I've seen Cordia Turbos with their seats more upright. Without exception, everyone ridiculed my choice - which only made me more passionate about it. After a few years of ownership I decided to sell it and found that the weird cars attract the weird buyers. One chap called every Sunday at midday promising to arrive at 5pm. That went on for six weeks and he never arrived. Eventually I sold it to a charming Korean funeral director who had owned 2 back in Sweden. He arrived in a full black leather suit, which matched the interior trim beautifully. What does one wear when purchasing a Stelvio? Kevin, following your criteria of being rare, aspirational-in-period and “interesting” I bought a Volvo 262C some years ago. For readers not familiar with this car, it is the V6 Coupe from the late 70s with the heavily lowered roof-line. In terms of aesthetics it is a heady rival for the Stelvio.
At the time it was described as the car for little people with big wallets. It cost triple the price of a Volvo 244 and was “sumptuously” trimmed. Being over 6 feet tall, I did have head-room problems. I’ve seen Cordia Turbos with their seats more upright.
Without exception, everyone ridiculed my choice – which only made me more passionate about it.
After a few years of ownership I decided to sell it and found that the weird cars attract the weird buyers. One chap called every Sunday at midday promising to arrive at 5pm. That went on for six weeks and he never arrived. Eventually I sold it to a charming Korean funeral director who had owned 2 back in Sweden. He arrived in a full black leather suit, which matched the interior trim beautifully.
What does one wear when purchasing a Stelvio?

]]> By: Ben http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2008/08/18/collecting-japanese-cars-in-oz/comment-page-1/#comment-6978 Ben Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:22:51 +0000 http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/?p=3200#comment-6978 I would be down with that! Any publicity is good publicity, right? :D I would be down with that! Any publicity is good publicity, right? :D

]]> By: Kev http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2008/08/18/collecting-japanese-cars-in-oz/comment-page-1/#comment-6974 Kev Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:06:35 +0000 http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/?p=3200#comment-6974 Ok Ben, when we're done with Project Hakosuka we can get started on Project Stelvio Ok Ben, when we’re done with Project Hakosuka we can get started on Project Stelvio

]]> By: Ben http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2008/08/18/collecting-japanese-cars-in-oz/comment-page-1/#comment-6972 Ben Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:36:57 +0000 http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/?p=3200#comment-6972 Most collectible cars were desirable when they were new. Let a few decades pass, and even if they are not up to modern performance and build standards as Mark pointed out, that desirability still carries over. Many Japanese cars seem to have sidestepped this pattern and are now desirable because modern ones create an interest in the older ones. I suppose with only 200 made there's bound to be at least that many people who will fork over money for a Stelvio. I think another reason it turns me off is because it so easily reinforces the common perception that Japanese cars are well-built but tasteless when it comes to design (ie, Mitsuoka Orochi). Well, at least we can blame the Italians for this one. :) Most collectible cars were desirable when they were new. Let a few decades pass, and even if they are not up to modern performance and build standards as Mark pointed out, that desirability still carries over. Many Japanese cars seem to have sidestepped this pattern and are now desirable because modern ones create an interest in the older ones.

I suppose with only 200 made there’s bound to be at least that many people who will fork over money for a Stelvio. I think another reason it turns me off is because it so easily reinforces the common perception that Japanese cars are well-built but tasteless when it comes to design (ie, Mitsuoka Orochi). Well, at least we can blame the Italians for this one. :)

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